Californians change their spending habits

58% of Californians say the recession has "forever changed" their spending

Most Californians say the Great Recession has "forever changed" their spending habits, according to the latest quarterly survey by Citibank.

The survey showed growing pessimism about the state's recovery, with less than half of respondents - 46 percent - expecting the job market to improve in the next 12 months, down from 58 percent a year ago.

And those fears about the economy have led Californians to cut back on spending, the poll suggests. Roughly 58 percent of respondents said the way they spend and save has permanently changed.

Currently:

72 percent are eating out at restaurants less.

71 percent have cut down on credit card purchases.

67 percent are using coupons.

66 percent have cut back on premium products such as gourmet coffee and food

53 percent are shopping at stores that sell bulk items.

40 percent say they have changed living arrangements to save money, including 56 percent of those aged 18 to 34.

That penny-pinching could put a dint on holiday spending, with 38 percent of respondents saying they plan to spend less on the holidays - mostly by looking for items on sale - compared to 12 percent who plan to spend more and 50 percent who will spend about the same. Just 32 percent plan to use a credit card for their holiday shopping, with the rest opting for cash or debit cards.